Professional Documents
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WEDDINGS
dreamitalian
S P R I N G • I S S U E 9 • £2 . 9 9 • w w w . i t a l y m a g . c o . u k
&
HONEYMOONS Your essential guide to getting married in italy
Gavinget&married
Arlene
THAT’S AMORE!
in style
…in the beautiful town of Santa Maria di Castellabate
WEDDINGS
dreamitalian Editor’s page
&
HONEYMOONS ‘...benvenuti’, welcome!
S
Your essential guide to getting married in italy
SPRING IS ON THE HORIZON and as anyone in the wedding Talking of wedding days running smoothly, this month we
industry will have noticed, the wedding season is well and talk to four Love&Lord wedding planners whose working life
truly on its way. Here in Italy, this is when there are lots of revolves around achieving just that. While brides and grooms
fairs going on, each city hosting their own fiera per gli are fretting about getting their lines right at the altar, what are
sposi. I’ve been doing my best to get to as many as possible, wedding planners worrying about? Read our feature and find
and must say that this year, crisis or no crisis, the fairs were out, after which you’ll probably have a newfound admiration
packed. On my rounds, I’ve seen some incredible wedding for planners, and rightly so! Then we head down to the pretty
dresses: white (of course), red, pink, blue, lilac and even town of Santa Maria di Castellabate where Amore Wedding’s
black! The black one was truly stunning and I could Lisa Crotti helps one couple organise not only their wedding
absolutely see why a brave bride might choose it. But on day, but the holiday of a lifetime.
the whole, it looks like 2009 is going to be a sparkling year G e r m a i n e S t a f fo rd For brides approaching their big day with a few pounds still
for brides, with many dresses embroidered and enriched
E D I TO R to shed, don’t miss our Ask The Experts feature where Janey
with crystals, sequins, glass and even tiny mirrors. Lines are Holliday of Fit for a Princess offers some fabulous last minute
long and very sensual and it looks like backless is back this year too. Bows tips for getting into shape, and into the dress! Janey runs a series of popular
abound, but they are sophisticated and perfectly positioned for a classy, bridal bootcamps across London – so she’s seen lots of anxious brides on their
romantic effect. And it was great to see some short dresses too, some quest to de-stress and lose weight before their wedding day. And while she
flapper style, others boasting an eye-catching asymmetric cut, for brides works participants hard, it’s encouraging to see she is adamant that her
looking for a less formal way to dress up for their big day. clients eat properly and enough. And don’t worry if you’re not in the London
area as Janey’s website has lots of tips and ideas for those further afield too.
And then of course there were suits galore for grooms, and lots of accessories,
from shoes and ties to buttonholes and cufflinks. There was no lack of And along with our regular features like Fashion, Weddings Gifts and
ideas for wedding lists either, or for wedding favours, rings, honeymoon Honeymoon Hotels, this month, in conjunction with London's La Dolce Vita
destinations, or house decorating. I also enjoyed picking up some etiquette Event, where you can visit their great Weddings Pavillion, we are offering two
tips: how to choose flowers suitable for your particular church and how it standard tickets for £19, saving you £9. Simply enter the code DIW01
is good manners to leave the flowers afterwards as an offering; when during when you book your tickets on www.ladolcevitaevent.co.uk or when
the service your organist should play and your soloist sing; and how rice you call 08712305589. And if you want to have a look at some of our Dream
should be thrown outside of the church and only with the priest’s consent. Italian Wedding back issues, don't forget you'll find them all at italymag.co.uk
Small touches that respect local customs and help your day run smoothly. A presto
www.italymag.co.uk
PUBLISHED BY POUNDBURY PUBLISHING LIMITED, E D I T O R Germaine Stafford W EB C OMMUNIT Y R EL ATIONS
germaine@italymag.co.uk Valentina Grassiccia
MIDDLE FARM HOUSE, MIDDLE FARM WAY, POUNDBURY, valentina@italymag.co.uk
DORCHESTER, DORSET, UNITED KINGDOM DT1 3RS A R T E D I T O R Paul Tutill W EB C ONTENT S UPPORT
studio@italymag.co.uk Francesco Savatteri
Tel: +44 (0)1305 266360 Fax: +44 (0)1305 262760 ISDN: +44 (0)1305 266710 francesco@italymag.co.uk
W E B M A S T E R Ronald Ashri SALES MANAGER
S U B S C R I P T I O N R AT E S webmaster@italymag.co.uk
Angelo Sangiorgio
UNITED KINGDOM – 1 Year (incl. p&p) £55.00 – 2 Years (incl. p&p) £107.00 angelo@italymag.co.uk
W EB E DITOR Carla Passino
EUROPE & IRELAND – 1 Year (incl. p&p) £76 – 2 Years (incl. p&p) £149 carla@italymag.co.uk SALES EXECUTIVE
Levinia Modica
REST OF WORLD (Air Mail) – 1 Year (incl. p&p) £95 – 2 Years (incl. p&p) £184 levinia@italymag.co.uk
COVER SALES EXECUTIVE
See page 70 for SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS IMAGE… Luisa Pacifico
luisa@italymag.co.uk
S U B S C R I P T I O N H O T L I N E O R D E R S ! +44 (0) 1305 266360
Getting to the church
on time and in style! SALES EXECUTIVE
(Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm) (see page 12) Tonia Modica
tonia@italymag.co.uk
o r t o s u b s c r i b e o n l i n e V I S I T www.italymag.co.uk Image courtesy of SALES SUPPORT
• Credit cards acceptable and likewise orders by telephone • Antonio & Luciano, Michele Iemmolo
Amore Weddings michele@italymag.co.uk
• Please refer to subscription details in this issue for special prices •
AD PRODUCTION
ADVERTISEMENT SALES James Dean
admin@poundbury.co.uk
Angelo Sangiorgio ~ Tel: 00 44 (0)207 5588497/00 39 0932 950222 ~ Email: angelo@italymag.co.uk
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Print and Origination: The Manson Group Limited, St Albans, Hertfordshire. Distributers: Seymour, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London EC1A 9PT. With thanks to: Vanessa Hill. Telephone: 0207 429 4000. International Sales: Through Poundbury Publishing Ltd: Contact Debbie Shorey.
Telephone: 01305 266360. Copyright: Poundbury Publishing Limited© 2007. All rights reserved. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without prior permission in writing. We welcome contributions that fit into the general theme of the magazine,
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in this issue…
WEDDINGS
dreamitalian
contents
&
HONEYMOONS Your essential guide to getting married in italy
dress designer
8 making the most of
‘the dress’
Clair Quigley looks at some beautiful creations
from Laura Biagiotti’s Summer 09 collection
for brides who want a wedding dress they
can wear again and again
weddings
12 that’s amore!
Arlene Sharkey tells us how her wedding to
husband Gavin in the beautiful town of
Santa Maria di Castellabate was truly a trip
she’ll never forget
destinations
26 gourmet honeymoon hotels
This month we take a look at some gorgeous
hotels in Italy that offer not only beautiful
surroundings and personalised service, but
also exquisite dining facilities
wedding planners
18 the dream team
Four Love&Lord wedding planners let
Germaine Stafford into what it’s like on the
other side of the fence, and it’s not all
plain sailing!
fi ti
p06-07 Contents : *ContentsWedd 30/1/09 12:28 Page 3
Spring 09/Issue 9
Subscriptions
For subscription details
see pages 5 and 40.
38
culture
38 matriMovie
2 2 18 Find out how one man is offering special
screenings of couples’ wedding films while
helping save his local cinema.
advice
42 ask the experts…
Our regular feature in which an expert answers
your wedding questions. In this issue Janey
weddingquestions
Holliday of Fit for a Princess offers precious
advice to brides on how to lose weight,
release stress and get into shape for their
big day.
wedding gifts
48 Italian style…
We take a look at a range of fabulously
stylish wedding gifts that any bride and
groom would be delighted to receive.
photocall
36 a sense of place
One couple sneaks off to a quiet terrace to
enjoy a romantic dance together after their
wedding dinner.
photocall
50 a sense of place
A bride and groom enjoy a quiet moment
‘the dress’
gowns & dresses
L
versatile creations offer unique pieces that together
create a multi-form wardrobe you’ll wear again and again
wedding fashion
cor a l
branches
e m b r oi de r e d
with
i r r i de s c e n t
sequins are
ton e - o n - ton e
or con t r a s t i n g …
H O L I D AY S N A P S H O T S
Laura Biagiotti’s creations are perfect for this
kind of woman, and never more so than her
new 2009 summer collection, Snapshots
from the Mediterranean, which is inspired
by Italy’s sea with its gorgeous scenery and
natural settings. Colours range from candid
bridal whites and the lucky red of
Mediterranean coral to the bright turquoises
and greens of a Sardinian sea and underwater
tones in inky black. There is a distinct
holiday feel about this collection, with many
of the models giving an urban twist to
undersea colours and shapes in a new
Med-chic style. Coral branches embroidered
with iridescent sequins are tone-on-tone or
contrasting, with the forms then repeated
in bold accessories. The sea is the theme that
unites this collection, its glittering surface
inspiring daytime and eveningwear outfits
with dazzling crystals and pearly sheens.
Elsewhere, traces of black lace add a seductive,
feminine touch to prints.
Faithful to her style, Biagiotti’s flattering
pieces can nonchalantly pass from beach to
office, morning to evening, with drawstring
details that adjust proportions and give
each piece a new form and function. Choose
between flowing geometric shapes that
drape along the body and emphatic cuts and
stiff fabrics such as Mikado silk that create
sculpted lines and three-dimensional effects.
And also true to her style, Biagiotti’s
creations make innovative use of natural
ecological fabrics and avant-garde techniques
while using fashion’s history as a spring-
board to discover and explore the fashion
of the future.
wedding fashion
SHADES OF SUMMER
For those planning an unforgettable Italian
honeymoon, Biagiotti’s summery numbers
draw on a blend of Mediterranean colours,
combining the vitality of turquoise with a
touch of sunny yellow that in turn fades into
aquatic greens and takes on luminous hints
of purple. An almost imperceptible shell
print seems to form a flower on the light
blue chiffon dress. The linen Bambola dress
has multicoloured stripes, while the knit
maxi-poncho has a drawstring to adjust
proportions. The must-have items in
Biagiotti’s summertime knitwear segment
feature silk knit stripes alternating with nude-
effect Lurex bands. And best of all, knit and
fabric caftans, ponchos and scarves turn into
airy dresses and blouses in this functional
yet ultra-refined style, meaning each piece is
doubly precious.
And as a last consideration for nervous
brides to be, Biagiotti considers her coral dresses
talismans with protective and reinvigorating
powers that ward off anxiety and stress.
What more could a bride ask for? diw&h
amore!
a lifetime
WORDS : ARLENE SHARKEY
IMAGES : ANTONIO & LUCIANO, AMORE WEDDINGS
THAT’ S
G
THE CHARMS
OF C A S T E L L A BAT E
AVIN AND I met back in Arriving at Santa Maria di Castellabate
college, and after eight years could only be described as idyllic. We were
together, Gavin finally managed met by Niki our wedding coordinator, who
to do the unthinkable and surprise me is part of the South Italy based Amore
when he proposed just before New Year’s Weddings team. We viewed several potential
Eve in 2006. venues in the area as well as the little chapel
Gavin and I had often spoken prior to in the medieval town of Castellabate. Words
our engagement about the kind of wedding can hardly describe the spectacular view
that we would like to have when our day from the old town perched high on the hill
came. We had been to many big traditional above Santa Maria, overlooking the country-
weddings at home in Ireland throughout side on one side and the coastline on the
the years, and decided that we wanted to do other, and the winding cobbled streets and
something a bit more intimate and special. stone built houses in the streets leading to
The romance and magic of Italy had always the chapel. The last reception location we
appealed to us and so the search for the looked at was the Palazzo Belmonte, a
perfect wedding location commenced. 17th-century Palace set in five acres of
After contacting many wedding planners luscious green gardens overlooking the
in Italy, I was given several personal beach, which we fell in love with immediately.
recommendations for a wedding planner After deciding that this was exactly what we
called Lisa Crotty at Amore Weddings, …gavin and i had had in mind for our dream wedding, we
whose head office is based in Ireland. We soon signed on the dotted line and let Lisa
met Lisa shortly afterwards and were so
nothing more to and Amore Weddings take over the reins
impressed with her professionalism and worry about to organise our special day.
the company’s portfolio of venues, suppliers The months passed quickly and after
and testimonials from previous clients that than organising a couple of meetings and the exchange of
we whisked ourselves out to Italy to visit a a few emails between us and Lisa and her
few of her suggested locations.
our guest list… team, everything was organised, from the
flowers to the cars to the songs that the
band would play on the day. Lisa had every
aspect of our wedding covered and so Gavin
and I had nothing more to worry about
than organising our guest list, invitations,
honeymoon and the all important wedding
dress. My wedding dress was a layered lace
halter-neck with just enough sequins and
sparkle to make it perfect! As my crowning
glory, I had a church-length veil which
swept to the floor and was covered with
tiny crystals that shimmered as they caught
the light.
It seemed like only the blink of an eye
and we were packing our things to head out
to Italy. We flew out on the Sunday, five
days before the wedding, to give us time to
relax and to sort out a few last minute
details with the Amore Weddings team
before the big day.
f ( )
_Amore:edit 30/1/09 13:22 Page 4
a s t h e s op r a n o s a n g A V e M A R I A … I co u l d n ’ t s top
my s e l f f r om s h e ddi n g a f e w t e a rs
soon it was time to start getting ready and lanterns hanging from the branches of the
the hairdresser and beautician arrived to trees and the candles all around the marquee
work their magic. At half past three, I had and pathways made the scene all the more
just put on my dress, Alfredo my hairdresser magical, their flickering light pitched against
fixed the veil in place and it was time to go. the background of the old Palazzo walls.
The vintage open topped Excalibur car waited The band played our first dance, David
outside to take my Dad and me up the Gray’s The One I Love and finally it was time to
winding road to the chapel high above in let our hair down on the dance floor and show
Castellabate, and the locals cheered and them how it’s done Irish style! Once the band
shouted ‘Auguri!’ as we drove past. finished playing at midnight we moved to the
My Dad and I stood at the door of the disco beside the pool. Lisa had wisely advised
church waiting for Niki to give us our cue to us to put together a play list of all our favourite
walk up the aisle. As the soprano sang Ave songs and floor fillers for the DJ, Pio, who
Maria, the emotion of the day came to a did a brilliant job. Soon the dance floor was
head and I couldn’t stop myself from shed- jumping as we boogied away into the night.
ding a few tears as I walked up between the
pews, seeing how beautiful the church
looked with the arrangements of candles
and white flowers and Gavin looking so
handsome in his suit waiting nervously for
me at the alter. The priest, Fr Charles, gave a
lovely ceremony and finally we walked back
down the aisle to the wedding march as
husband and wife.
The reception venue in the Palazzo was
like something out of a fairytale – the aperi-
tif by the pool, the beautifully decorated
marquee on the lawn with its chandeliers,
the elegant table settings and seat covers,
down to the waiters dressed in bow ties with
white dinner jackets - every little detail was
covered to the highest standard. Nothing
could have been more perfect as we sat at
the top table enjoying the fabulous meal,
the band playing in the background, and
with views across the gardens of the Palazzo
of the sun setting behind a red sea on the
horizon. As the dusk settled, the little
we c a n s a f e ly s ay t h at n o t o n e as p e ct o f o u r
i ta l i a n we d d i n g c o u l d b e f a u lt e d …
w
o ue rd ddi rnega m
p l aw ne nd ed ri sn g
This month, we talk to Helen Kershaw, Gerri Sweetland, Joëlle Edwards and Jo Neilson,
four planners who work for Love&Lord, London’s leading planner for weddings in
Italy, about their packed agendas, secret weapons, and worst fears for your big day
WO R D S : G E M S TA F F O R D / IMAGES : ANTHONY ELORT and CORBIN GURKIN for LOVE&LORD
dream team
film of Much Ado About Nothing , the perfect
setting for a wedding location, with a
beautiful sunken garden surrounded by
vineyards and the Tuscan hills.’
F O R M I N G AT TAC H M E N T S
Talking to the girls, it transpires that one of
the most rewarding aspects of their work is
The
wedding planners
‘ The groom
ardently
kissed her
on the
lips before
literally
sweeping
her off
her feet…
f ( )
p20:p012 30/1/09 13:43 Page 1
wedding planners
When Jennie and Kevin Meehan started listing all that they dreamed of in
a wedding location, they had no idea that such a place really existed
WORDS : JENNIE MEEHAN / IMAGES : DREAM ACADEMY
wish listreality
F RO M
TO
COUNTDOWN
At 11:30 am, I set off back to the hotel
…THIS WAS NOT GOING TO BE A room to meet Paolo my hairdresser.
TRADITIONAL WEDDING… However, somewhere between the breakfast
terrace and the room, the weather had
taken a turn for the worse. As Paolo worked
f ( )
p24:p012 30/1/09 14:58 Page 1
_DrAcad_Jennie&Kevin:edit 30/1/09 13:27 Page 5
his magic on my hair, I sat looking out to have some quality time and more
onto the beautiful courtyard of the photos on the beach.
Carducci 76 hotel where raindrops began
to fall from a dull grey sky. I could not A WONDERFUL WELCOME
believe this was happening, but Paolo Our guests were totally wowed, not only
assured me that for Italians it was lucky to by the stunning design of the hotel and
have rain on a wedding day, to which I its friendly staff, but also by the amazing
replied with a polite but nervous giggle. Champagne welcome reception which
At 2:50 pm, my bridesmaid Katie (my had been laid out on the terrace over-
sister), and I made our way out of the hotel of the village, allowing our guests to relax and looking the sea. We were equally impressed
towards the wedding car in the rain. Our have fun while we had our photographs done by the wedding banquet which followed and
lovely driver Giorgio assured us once again in the castle, and even dancing on the castle which Stefano the chef had prepared for us at
that it was good luck to have rain on your walls overlooking the sea. The locals were all the poolside restaurant. After dinner, we had
wedding day. By the time we reached there to greet us and to shout their best wishes a gorgeous candlelit dessert buffet on the ter-
Gradara, the rain had started to subside and as we strolled around, feeling just like the race where we also cut our fabulous wedding
as we got out of the car, we were greeted by King and Queen of the castle. Even two very cake before starting a night of dancing. Our
the ever enthusiastic Franco, ready and wait- handsome carabinieri took part in the fun! cake was superb and presented in a truly
ing with a smile and two large umbrellas at We left our guests to head back to unique way with candles and lights all around,
hand. Fortunately we didn’t need them, and Cattolica and the fabulous Carducci 76 and of course, lots of popping corks and
made our way towards the waiting groom. Boutique Hotel, (owned by one of Italy’s flowing champagne!
The ceremony venue was in the little leading fashion designers no less), while we We just did not want this day to end and
bespoke theatre within the castle walls, just did a small detour with our photographers so reluctantly at 06:15 am, we decided to
perfect for an intimate wedding party of 47 head to bed and call it a day, and what a day!
guests. It was beautifully decorated with red as It was amazing to know that we are loved
the predominant colour, balanced with deli- so much by all our family and closest friends,
cate pink flowers. This was in keeping with the and to have them all there with us on what
Chinese tradition of using red as a celebratory was the most wonderful week of our lives is
colour. We exchanged our vows on the stage something we will never forget. We are so
to the strains of an Italian Quintet as our proud of everyone for making the journey
backdrop, and with our family and friends as and sharing the most magical day of our lives
the audience. It all felt so surreal and magical. - this truly is what dreams are made of.
By the time we stepped out of the theatre We knew that Marion and Franco from
as man and wife, it felt like a completely Dream Academy, and Marco the manager at
different day. the hotel would not let us down, but not
The sun had once again found its way only did they make this event the most
out of the clouds for us - well we like to memorable and special in every way imaginable,
think it was just for us - and in perfect time but they far exceeded our expectations and
for our photographs. made our dream wedding day a reality. diw&h
We had arranged a champagne and finger Weddings at Gradara Castle by in house
food buffet in one of the little traditional and Wedding & Event Designers Dream Academy
friendly restaurants within the cobbled streets Web: www.dreamacademy.it
HO N E Y M O O N hot e l s
Honeymooning in Italy means treating yourself to the very best, and for many
couples that means good food too. So this month we suggest some beautiful hotels
whose excellent cuisine will satisfy the most exacting of gourmets
WO R D S : G E R M A I N E S TA F F O R D
T
FURORE INN RESORT – FURORE, AMALFI COAST
HE FURORE INN RESORT is a luxury residence set in some of Italy’s most stunning countryside. Imagine a secluded resort, nested
against a steep, craggy mountainside and apparently suspended between sky and sea, with gardens and swimming pools that seem
to plunge right into the Mediterranean. It’s already the perfect romantic hideaway (as a number of Hollywood stars already know!), but
the hotel also avails of two restaurants, Italian Touch and La Volpe Pescatrice, (The Fishing Vixen), the former, an exclusive setting for fine
dining, the latter, the ideal place to enjoy the chef’s modern interpretations of local traditional recipes.
Both restaurants overlook the sea and La Volpe Pescatrice has an open air terrace where it is possible to enjoy meals outside during
the warmer summer months. Skilled Chef Antonio Sorrentino also offers cooking lessons, and when you feel you’ve overindulged,
head for the resort’s fabulous spa, where you can enjoy their signature full body massage with essence of local Amalfi lemons,
or specialized body treatments with straw, wine or even chocolate!
Tel: (+39) 089 8304711 Web: www.furoreinn.it
V
VILL A CRESPI – ORTA SAN GIULIO, PIEMONTE
ILLA CRESPI is the type of place that makes you believe in fairy tales. A Moorish style residence built in 1879, it represents
an Italian cotton merchant’s ‘Victorian folly’, complete with striking minaret and a large well tended park that slopes down to
the beautiful Lago D’Orta, one of the most picturesque lakes in Italy. It is situated in the heart of fine wine-producing country and is
close to the Sacro Monte, declared a UNESCO Human Heritage site, making this spot unique both for its beauty and its gastronomy
– perfect for passionate newlyweds.
Villa Crespi’s rooms offer maximum opportunities for romance with their four poster beds,
beautiful 18th and 19th-century furniture, frescoed ceilings, and elegant marble bathrooms with
whirlpool bathtubs. Each has its own personality, and offers a taste of the regal atmosphere that
attracted the various noblemen who slept here throughout the centuries. But at the heart of this
splendid structure is two star Michelin Chef Antonio Cannavacciuolo’s restaurant where guests
can abandon themselves to some of the finest cuisine Italy has to offer, accompanied by an
I
PAL AZZO FAILL A – MODICA, SICILY
f ( )
p28:p004 30/1/09 13:43 Page 1
H
L A MERIDIANA – GARLENDA, LIGURIA
ALFWAY between Monte Carlo and Portofino, surrounded by the greens of the Garlenda Golf Club and only a few kilometres
from the beach at Alassio, lies the enchanting La Meridiana, a Relais & Châteaux member since 1979. It is a quiet country
residence where couples can relax and enjoy a true taste of Ligurian lifestyle against a backdrop of hillsides, olive groves, and with
the pleasant aroma of myrtle and broom in the air.
Part of the hotel’s charm lies in the welcome extended by Edmondo Segre and his family,
and in their ability to make guests feel like long lost friends. In rooms and suites, sophisticated
taste, elegance and technology are combined to offer guests a service that is comprehensive but
discreet. However, it is in the hotel’s restaurant, Il Rosmarino that Segre’s passion for good food
and wine is revealed, with truly divine Ligurian specialties on offer, accompanied by a seriously
S
LE C ASE, LE MARCHE – MACERATA, LE MARCHE
Once uponthere
a time
c h iwl ed dr de in n ga st iwne dRdoi m
n eg s
were…
Wedding Planner
Bonnie Bates explains
how keeping children
happy on the big day
makes for even
happier adults…
W
to go to all the parties, they even have control
of the TV remote. Anywhere you go, there
are always some little rascals running around
bringing joy to their parents’ hearts. They
HEN A HOLLYWOOD same, since taking care of the little ones is a are especially cherished at weddings: a pat
ACTRESS whose wedding family responsibility and there are very few on a child’s head is the ultimate good luck
I was organizing on the babysitting services in this otherwise very charm for bride and groom. Thereby comes
Amalfi Coast asked me for a babysitter for child-friendly country. the traditional wedding good wish: Auguri e
her three year old daughter, I didn’t have a figli maschi! (best wishes and hope for a boy!)
second thought. I called my daughter who APPLE OF MY EYE
conveniently lives in that area, and we Italians love their bambini! Children are the POISON APPLES
arranged a sleep over with her four year old. core of family and the center of attention, But sometimes the adult view of a good time
Any Italian family would have done the and as such, they reap all the benefits of the is far from a child’s concept of fun, and
weddings fall into this category of unbearable solving puzzles and guessing clues, aimed at against each other in outer space games.
events for kids. Sitting still for a one-hour finding the valuable treasure to be shared Storyteller (3 to 6) stories and fables
mass in a stone-cold church or waiting out with everyone. which amaze and engage even those who
a forty-minute civil ceremony are a test of Star Wars (ages 8 to 12) engages everyone try not to believe.
tolerance even for the best-behaved. Those in being a part of the universe, discovering Princes, Princesses and Dragons (3 to 7)
yawns of sheer boredom, that non-stop whining new planets and asteroids, competing involves dressing-up and dancing in a magic
for the end of it all; sulking, sassing, and sighing, kingdom.
all they get from their parents is reassurance If you’re not sure of what‘s ‘in’ with the
that the end is near. From fidgeting, to fussing, teens, go for ‘Art Attack’ – arts and crafts for
to festering, the little ones keep mommy and all ages. If you just want to tire them out so
daddy (and guests!) on their toes by wandering they’ll mellow out at a certain point, ‘Baby
off and getting into any trouble they can find. Disco’ will wear them out for sure.
Soaking themselves in a basin of holy water,
climbing up (and slipping off!) medieval Entertainers provide materials including
statues, running up and down the bridal aisle, balloons, specialty art supplies, child-friendly
picking flowers from carefully placed (and costly) …these make-up, favours and prizes, you just need
decorations – these miniature guests (read
pests) get to the reception venue high on energy
miniature to provide the space. Depending on the
number of children and how long you want
and low on obedience. And in the meantime, guests… get to to keep them out of sight, pricing starts at
their disheveled parents – mums ready to 100 Euros for a three hour stretch. If children
quietly slip off the heels underneath the the reception on your guest list figure at least 10% of the
dinner table and dads ready to hang out with
the boys and puff on a celebratory cigar – are
high on energy total number, this addition to your budget
will make the difference for remembering
hoping and praying that the children will find and low on your wedding celebration as one in a
some non-life-threatening activity to keep million and ensuring that everyone lives
themselves busy... obedience happily ever after! diw&h
f ( )
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p35:p049 30/1/09 13:48 Page 1
p50-51 Photocall dps:*PhotodpsAUG_Smile L/O 30/1/09 13:32 Page 2
photocall
a sense
of place
T HIS COUPLE slips away
from their guests to enjoy
a romantic cheek to cheek on a
pretty terrace overlooking a
nearby valley. Wrapped up in
their own little world, they're
looking at each other like
two people delighted to have
said 'I do…'
a sense of place
m awt re idmd oi nv gi es i n R o m e
Most weddings have between 100 Roberto explains: ‘Traditionally the bride
and 200 guests, so there really and groom invite all their guests to their
is a fabulous party atmosphere. home to watch the movie. Obviously this
At every wedding, there is a can get a bit tricky and the couple find
photographer and his role is themselves with more house guests than
L
central. Here it’s traditional for they know what to do with. That’s when
all the salient moments to be I got to thinking about how we could
caught on film, with photographs, organise things differently.’
and increasingly, an actual film
IKE MANY GREAT IDEAS, the of the day, so the photographers are generally S AV I N G A CINEMA
creation of MatriMovie in the town kept very busy. They usually turn up long At the same time, the only remaining local
of Molfetta (near Bari in Puglia) before the ceremony so they can catch all cinema in Molfetta, the Odeon, was facing
started as fun. Roberto Pansini, the project’s the preparation moments – the bride having closure. ‘There used to be 14 cinemas in
dynamic author, was already involved in the her hair done etc., and they’re often the our town,’ says Roberto, ‘but the arrival
world of weddings when the concept began last to leave. I’d often be present at these of the huge multiplex cinemas in the larger
to take shape. ‘Weddings in this part of the weddings, sometimes for work, sometimes towns nearby has all but killed the small
world are just huge parties,’ he says. ‘After as a guest, and one of the things I heard independent operations. I’m really attached
the church, the day is given over to long time and time again was how difficult it was to my town and wanted to help our last
luncheons, live music, DJs and dancing. to organise showings of the wedding film.’ cinema survive, and so I hit on the idea of
matrimovie
f ( )
p40:p030 30/1/09 13:50 Page 1
matrimovie
renting the whole theatre one day a week couples. At the end of the evening, we invite similar movie parties for Golden Wedding
and using it to project Wedding Films. We the bride and groom on stage and ask them Anniversaries, and soon we’ll be doing the
had a good laugh at the time and thought a few questions about what they felt as they same thing for Silver Wedding Anniversaries.
we’d probably have some fun. Never in a watched the movie and normally the These are also very popular: imagine an
thousand years could we have imagined photographer makes an appearance. Usually older couple getting to watch the tale of
what we were getting ourselves into. I’m the we get called up too, and it’s always one of their life in photographs and films – it’s
type of person who likes to organise things the best part of the day, participating in really poignant. But most of all, I’d like
really well, go over things thoroughly and our clients’ happiness and seeing lots of to consolidate what we’re doing here in
offer a quality product, so I wasn’t really contented faces.’ Molfetta,’ says Roberto. ‘This is my town,
prepared for the immediate popularity we You’d think that an enterprise like this and the reasons I started this project are
encountered. The minute we started offering would attract mainly locals, but Roberto still valid. The cinema in Molfetta still needs
this service we were bombarded with phone regularly receives phone calls from abroad. to find clients and though I can’t single-
calls from clients and the press and that’s the ‘Some people who used to live in these parts handedly save it, every little helps.’ diw&h
way it’s been ever since. have moved to Germany, the States or even
‘What we do is this,’ says Roberto. ‘We Australia, and when they hear what we can You can email Roberto at matrimovie@libero.it
arrange a date for the film, then organise do they are really keen to participate. That For more information on services offered by
everything at the Odeon Cinema in Molfetta way they get to come home and invite MatriMovie, visit www.matrimovie.it
so the couple can invite all their friends and friends and family to a showing without
family to come to the first viewing of their having to find a different place to celebrate.’
wedding movie. We create a great party
atmosphere – send a long white limousine F U T U R E AT T R AC T I O N S
to pick up the bride and groom, lay out a So what does the future hold for MatriMovie?
red carpet for their arrival, fill the place ‘We’ve already received lots of requests to
with flowers and just for fun, we also create provide our services in different towns and
a poster featuring the couple, and post it in different cinemas,’ says Roberto, ‘but we’ll
outside the cinema – after all, they’re the see how that goes. We’ve also started doing
main attraction. Inside we have glasses of
bubbly and a buffet of finger food ready in
Roberto (right) with presenter
the foyer, and a DJ with some music so the
guests get into the mood. The theatre can
seat up to 460 people, though normally we …we also create a poster featuring
don’t have that many. We have a team of
hostesses present to serve the food and drink the couple… after all the y ’re the
and to help people to their seats when it’s m ain attraction
time for the showing.’
At the moment I am coordinating my wedding solution, so get the blood pumping and kick start
which will take place in June this year in Venice the happy hormones. Exercise is also a great stress
and it’s proving so much more stressful than I buster, and after a good workout you will see things
… D ON ’ t ever imagined. What can I do to ensure that what in a different perspective and will be able to take
should be the best day of my life doesn’t end up on any challenge without being so frustrated. Make
pa n ic - yo u giving me a heart attack? yourself daily lists, and talk through remaining
can achieve GIll D., Bolton (by email) tasks with your fiancé, and delegate where you can
- this is your chance to practice team work with
q u i t e a lot Re p l y f ro m : your husband to be.
Hi Dear
Janey Holliday, Fit for a Princess
in two
months, GIll Dream Italian Weddings & Honeymoons
Remember to keep focused, this is YOUR big day,
e s pe c i a l ly i f and it will be over before you know it, so enjoy My boyfriend proposed to me ten months ago,
yo u r e a l ly every second, every detail leading up to your wed- but somehow time has flown and I now only
ding as well as on the day itself. Stress will be no have two months before to get into shape for my
p u t yo u r good for you: stress can age us very quickly, and not wedding. What’s the best way to get thin quick?
Hi
only zaps us of our energy stores but can also stop Sal Brinkley, London (by email)
m i n d to i t us from losing weight (not good if you’re trying to
look your best for the wedding). Exercise is the best
Sal
Firstly, don’t panic – you can achieve quite a lot in
two months, especially if you really put your mind
to it. It’s really important though that you don’t
diet and exercise too hard; instead you need to eat
cleverly and train smart. With exercise, I suggest
what’s called split routine training, i.e. working a
different body part on different days. For example:
with progressions i.e. more reps, using weights, secs depending on your levels), come back to a five yo u s ho u l d
moving combinations etc. to seven and repeat. Don’t get bogged down with
Saturday: Arms and abs – as above but making it complicated training patterns or timings, just follow
a lway s
harder with slower reps on top of a usual set, holding the zigzag concept – up and down. The fitter you train as
a move for longer, less time in between exercises etc. become, the less your recovery will be and the
Sunday: Day off longer your sprint sets will be. hard as
yo u c a n :
Split routine training is where you only work one E AT I N G P RO P E R LY
or two body parts in each workout; this means you With regards to eating, follow a day to day detoxing t h i n k of
train that body part more, thus obtaining better eating plan which will help to get rid of toxins, de-
results and allowing it to rest for a couple of days, bloat you and shift the flab all at the same time.
a scale
meaning fewer injuries. Lots of people do all over Drink lots of water and fresh lemon (hot or cold), of on e to
body workouts, which are, of course, beneficial, but avoid wheat, dairy, red meat, alcohol and sugar and
split routine training, which is very popular with avoid eating too much fruit, especially at meal t e n … yo u
Hollywood A-Listers, is simply a more effective way times which often causes bloating. Eat lots of s ho u l d
to get results more quickly. vegetables and raw foods, lots of essential fatty acids
Progressive training is where you push yourself such as oily fish, avocadoes, nuts, seeds, olive oil a lway s b e
a little bit more in every workout. For example, on and, if possible, have a fresh vegetable based juice
a Monday if you are power walking or jogging, and every morning. A typical day might be: on waking –
t ry i n g
you do four km, try to do four and a half the next carrot, apple and ginger juice, breakfast – porridge to t r a i n
time. Or if you power walked for 45 mins and made with oat milk & honey; mid morning – a
jogged for 10, try jogging 15 mins on the next punnet of blueberries; lunch – small baked sweet around
cardio workout. potato, hummus and a large mixed salad; afternoon seven
snack – some nuts; dinner – baked salmon, brown
PUSHING YOURSELF rice and veggie stir-fry. to e ig h t
Dear
You should always be training as hard as you can:
think of a scale of one to ten, ten being the
f or m o s t
absolute hardest you can workout. You should Dream Italian Weddings & Honeymoons of yo u r
always be trying to train around a seven to eight
for most of your workout, but you should always I would really like to look my best on my wedding w or k o u t …
be trying to hit nine and tens for the latter part of day to my Italian fiancé, but live miles from the
your workout - add some sprints or pulses and real- nearest gym. Can you recommend a fitness/ beauty
ly try to push yourself as much as you can. With schedule that I can follow at home?
Hi
toning exercises, you must fail; i.e. get to the point Kirsty Colvin, Abruzzo (by email)
where you can’t do anymore.
Interval training is also one of the best ways to
maximise results. All you need to do is work at a Kirsty
steady state i.e. five to seven out of ten, and then More and more people are keeping in shape
burst into a nine or ten. When you can’t do anymore without stepping into a gym. As long as you are self
at this top end level (anywhere from 20 secs to 90 motivated you can achieve some fantastic results
f ( )
p44:p030 30/1/09 14:37 Page 1
kitchen confidential
gifts
!
based on a Deborah Sears design. This
collection features buildings in the ISIS
Palladian theme, which revolve round the
idea of a 17th-century country estate. The
major buildings are: Country House, Italian
Villa, English Villa, and American Villa.
Palladian Isis Ceramics, from £39.20
gifts
!
Every kitchen needs a touch of fun, No Italian kitchen would be complete
!
and these colourful Alessi chopping without somewhere to store some of the
boards are just the job. Round, square country’s best bottles. And what could be
and rectangular, these boards come better for displaying your favourite labels
in a variety of sizes and will fit in just than this eye-catching creation by Eva Solo?
about any space you have available. Wine rack, 6 bottle, Eva Solo, £42.10
Chopping Board, Alessi, Stefano
Giovannoni, from £16.00
For more information on these and a multitude of other fabulous wedding gifts, visit www.weddingshop.com
or buy from the Wedding Shop at Selfridges on (+44) 020 7318 3094
photocall
I M A G E : F O T O L I A © J O S H U A H AV I V
a sense
of place
A BRIDE AND GROOM
enjoy a quiet moment
together between the columns
of a secluded cloister before
being swept up again by
their guests and the ensuing
celebrations...